Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Closure of National Library
As soon as federal government has announced closure of all schools, colleges and universities, many other public venues have also been closed by the instant orders of their heads in the light of federal government decision of closure of educational institutions.
The National Library of Pakistan has been closed for the readers or library members from 26 November till further order. Library employees are happy to leave the library in order to celebrate Covid vacations. However, readers and members of the library all are against this closure of the library. There is a capacity of 400 to 500 readers to sit in the library halls but nowadays not more than 100 readers come daily in the National library. Moreover, National Institute of Health (NIH) also recommends allowing 100 readers daily, following SOPs. Despite this, administration of National Library is not facilitating its members.
Daily visitors of the library are of the view that the Government has not stopped recruitment exams across the country but creating hurdles in continuation of preparation of these exams. There are a number of candidates appearing in CSS 2021 and other federal and provincial recruitments. How will these candidates ensure their preparation when all venues of studies are closed? Government should address this issue urgently. After all, education is also as much important as business activities.
ASIF MEHMOOD
Islamabad
Rs 600 bn package for Balochistan
The trouble in Balochistan can’t be tackled with mere lip service unless a concrete step is not taken to mitigate the grievances of the people who have been deprived of the basic needs of life. Especially, the grievances of the people residing in southern part of Balochistan have of late not been addressed, despite being the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Thanks God a real realization has been made and this is a matter of great rejoice that the government has announced a long overdue Rs 600 billion package for the development projects in nine districts of southern Balochistan. These are to be completed in the next three years, and if completed will improve the living standard of the local people.
Look at the dream package, 16 dams will be built to irrigate 150,000 acres of land; 3,083 km long road projects will be initiated; 200 health centres will be upgraded; an olive processing unit and three date processing units will be built to make the local farmers able to add value to their produce; 640,000 children would be given distance education by teachers online from big cities; 83,000 children will be given free education while the government will pay a monthly stipend to parents at Rs 1,500 for boys and 2,000 for girls; mothers and newborn babies would be provided nourishing food; 35,000 youths will be given training to earn as freelancers; and electricity will be provided to 57% of the area population – it is really huge. It will not only change the lot of the people, but also help in curbing roots of militancy.
IMRAN JAMALI
Dera Rojhan Jamali
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A best friend isn’t someone usual. A friend can lead you in the right way more than parents in most intense situations. A friend will slap your face and definitely will not hide behind your back…. Not always a friend will treat you with happiness. Not always a friend will bring tears in your eyes, not always a friend will treat you with dignity (lol), Not always a friend will let you feel high; But, will show you all the emotions and mixture of million tons of feelings.
Not all of your friends will let you experience this. Only a few in millions will make you feel special. Even drinking a glass full of water with that kind of friend will give you happiness, which is more similar to eating your favourite flavour of pizza full of toppings and spices. A best friend will embrace your flaws more than you do. A best friend will inspire you, dare you, will help you face the real you rather than a mirror.
More than anything, a best friend will support you and guide you. A best friend can annoy you like siblings, irritate you like a boss, care you like a mother, will mould you like a father, will teach you like a teacher. A best friend will wipe your tears like tissue and at the same time will fill your face with rotten tomatoes and eggs on your birthdays. Trust me, if you already have that kind of friend, you are most lucky. However, if you have lost a friend due to some misunderstanding, please apologize to him/her. Let go your ego. In this world, there is plenty of ego and misunderstandings among humans. But pure affection and friendship are just rare. So, be kind to yourself as well as to others!
ZAMIR AHMED MEMON
Shikarpur
Unwise decision
In the wake of 2nd wave of COVID-19, govt and authorities concerned have designed several precautionary measures on national level to avoid spreading of the virus. The early closure of markets and shopping malls are highlighted among these decisions. Till-today, there have not been any authentic vaccine developed, and only cure is care, emphasizing grave need for social distance.
The decision of shut-down markets and shopping malls early may prove the catalyst to rise in active cases rate of COVID-19. As, owing to limited time young, older and children rush to markets at the same time in order to meet their needs. Further, it increases the population density in specific period of time at a certain region. Definitely people will come in close contact to each other and may cause a sudden spike of pandemic.
On the other perspective, being enlisted in the list of poor countries, our common man and labour are badly affected by lock-down, not the pandemic itself. They have been severely suffering from the consequences of lock-down for the last many months; they have to work on daily wages to feed their family. Therefore, it is unwise to shut-down markets early, as it leads to a sudden spike of virus spreading rate and unemployment. It is a dire need of the time to reform the policy in the best interest of the nation.
BILAL AHMED
Sukkur
Pakistani and Indian farmers
Despite depending on agrarian development and farm heartlands, the situation of farmers both in Pakistan and India is not good. Recently, agitating farmers mainly from Punjab were maltreated by the provincial administration. However, by and large the Pakistani farmers are enjoying no mentionable hurdles towards growing crops, income on the produce and taxes thereof. But the condition of farmers in the neighbouring country is highly miserable, which seems the part of BJP’s anti-farmer agenda. They are facing drought, that too on debt-driven lands.
Now, their protest and agitation have spread all over India after the tabling of two controversial bills which, if passed, may prove to be a death warrants for farmers. Indian media calls Maharashtra as a farmers’ suicide belt while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa have been totally devastated. “Even after 73 years of independence our farmer who is toiling to feed our nation, he himself is hungry, deprived and distressed. Unseasonal rains, droughts and floods, still ails Indian agriculture. The farmer has reached the brink of despair and what they are experiencing is something which is beyond an agrarian crisis”.
FAROOQ ALAY
Islamabad
Rape law
According to reports, the cabinet has decided to introduce new laws on rape and sodomy, which will now also be counted as an offensive equivalent to rape through an ordinance. Currently, only 4% of those accused of rape are convicted and of these 97% later have their sentences reduced or acquitted. We need to also consider the dichotomy between the laws which exists and the differences between them, with one contradicting the others.
Fortunately, the cabinet has suggested and put in writing an and to the two-finger examination for determining rape, which is humiliating and traumatic for the rape victim. It is also vital that the new law protects the victim and not hurt her/him for further through the processes that is used. Also need to think about reform, or restorative justice.
NITASHA FAROOQ
Rawalpindi
